The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-13
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Resolution Looking to Conference Com
mittee on Reapportionment.

Both houses Of the General Assembly used
yesterday morning in arranging for the passage
OF bills and necessary reports from committees.
Under suspension Of the rules the House passed
Representative Harrell's bill providing for the
building of free turnpikes by County Commits
sioners. It amends Section of the act of
March A. 1885, whereby the construction of pixies
can be carried out in place of bridges that may
have been ordered by the commissioners But
the pixies are not to exceed Eve miles in length
the cost of such bridge or repairing the same.
They may be built over routes the most de-
sirable and the commissioners are emnpwered to
construct them along county or State roads,
enter upon any land, condemn the same, and
take so much thereof as may be necessary.
Provisions are made for the appointment of
engineers, viewers and appraisers. for assess
ments and damages, the latter to be paid out of
the county treasury, as in the case of bridges.
The Senate bill to enable Fort Wayne to refund
5000, 900 of her Indebtedness at lower rate of
interest. was passed by the House, as was Repre-
sentative Davis's measure amending the jury
law. This provides that juries may be made up
of twelve, six or less number Of persons, the
latter depending upon the agreement between
parties at suit
Representative Kercheval presented the fol-
lowing:
Whereas, The General Assembly of the State of In
diana at its session in 1885 passed congressional and
legislative apportonment bills the effect of which
to practically dsfranchse least onefourth Of the
voters of the State, and,
Whereas, Such bills grossly unfair to the peo-
pie and in direct violation of the constitutional pro-
vision that such apportionment shall be made among
the several counties according to the number of ale
inhabitants above twenty-one years Of age in each
and,
Whereas, Such apportionment bills were intended
to distribute the representation in the lower House
and Representatives in the General Assembly of the
State among the people of the several counties
give one political party an undue and unfair advan
tage. and,
Whereas such purpose freely expressed by one
Of the Senator's from this State in the Congress of the
United States having it has been reported without
denial publicly declared that he would feel person
ally disgraced unless the next meaning the present.
General Assembly should have; at least, sixty Demo
cratic majority or joint ballot and
Whereas, The majority of the people of the State
Of Indiana irrespective of the partisan consid
ton held in November last, condemn the
said unfair apportionuaent by clecitng r,a-
ority of the Congressman and returning to the Legs
lature amajorty of all the members voted for in pot
ca opposition to the party responsible for the
Of said bills and by giving majority Of $500 in the
the popular vote in favor of the legislative candidates
| of the party in such political opposition. and
Whereas, The said apportionment bills are, for the
reasons stated, unjust, unconstitutional and should
the people expressed at such general election; there
| fore be it
| Resolved by the House of Representatives, the
Senate concurring That joint committee of the two
Houses be constituted to consist of equal number
from each of the two great political parties who shall
examine into the question and report to said houses
at their earliest convenience what measures if any
should he taken to correct and reform the existing
congressional and legislative apportionments of the
| State.
| A vote was taken on q motion to refer the
! n after to the committee on elections, and dur
! ing the call several gentlemen of the Democratic
| side took occasion to explain their respective
| positions. Representative Jewett said that tn.
expressions of the people at the last election hai
| shown that the apportionments were fair, ant
that the great majority of the Democracy in thu
last General Assembly was due to the hold
| Senators. Mr.. Patton did not think the las
election warranted any supposition, as the Re
| publicaus had carried eleven Democratic and
four of the new districts. He was undecided
| apparently, as to how to vote, but he fnall!
committee on elections. Representative Robin
son said the last superintendent was favorable t.
the Greenback element, and therefore voted no
| The vote resulted-yeas 50, nays 81
The Moon mechanics lien bill was also passed
favorable committee report appropriatinl
$37, 600 for the militia of the State was called Up
but pending motion of Representative Schle!
to indefinitely postpone the bill the House ad
iourned until 2 O'Clock Monday afternoon. whel
the Jewett bill regarding garnishmentis to come
mp as the special order. An hour later tn
Fleece bill, relative to teaching the effects O
alcohol and narcotics in the public schools. is t
be considered the same afternoon. Other specia
orders we're arranged as folows Soldiers mon
ument appropriation OF 5000, 900 for Wednesda
afternoon, the Reynolds temperance bill 70
| Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, and the bills fo
the schools for feeble minded that afternoon
The Senate indefinitely postponed the Hous
concurrent resolution permitting the removal {
the convict Levi Geisler to Lima, O., to testif
in certain case. and after discharging goo
deal of routine business adjourned until Mo.
day morning.